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Watford v Manchester City team news & stats

Odion Ighalo: Watford striker will hope to score again against Manchester City

Manchester City are unbeaten in eight games against Watford going into Saturday’s latest encounter in the Premier League at Vicarage Road.

Team news

Watford will be without Nathan Ake after he was sent off against Tottenham on Monday, but Quique Sanchez Flores has no new injury worries, although Tommie Hoban (groin) and Joel Ekstrand (knee) remain sidelined.

Manchester City, meanwhile, will again be without Vincent Kompany, who could be out for another four weeks as he continues to struggle with a calf injury.

However Fabian Delph and Gael Clichy are both back in contention after missing Tuesday’s draw at Leicester City with knocks, while Fernando is available again after five games out with a hamstring injury.

Kick-off at Vicarage Road is at 5.30pm.

Opta stats

Watford and Manchester City have met 13 times in the league, with both sides racking up five victories.

However, Manchester City are unbeaten against the Hornets in the last eight encounters in all competitions (W6 D2).

Odion Ighalo became the first Watford player to score in six successive top-flight league games when he netted in their last match against Tottenham.

If he were to score in this game, Ighalo would equal the all-time club record of scoring in seven successive games, set by Frank McPherson in 1928-29.

Ighalo ended 2015 as the top-scoring player in the calendar year within the top four tiers of English football (30 goals).

Pablo Zabaleta could make his 200th Premier League appearance in this match and would become the third Argentine to reach this landmark after Carlos Tevez and Fabricio Coloccini.

Watford didn’t manage a single shot on target when they played Man City at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season.

Sergio Aguero has only failed to score against five of the 28 different Premier League teams that he has faced in the competition – Watford (one appearance) are one of these sides.

Manchester City are winless in their last six Premier League away games (W0 D3 L3) – their longest run without an away win since April 2011 (also six games).

Man City last went seven successive Premier League away games without a win in December 2009.